So, I often read and post to a classical music forum put up by The New York Times and the other day someone opined that women had no business standing on a podium and leading an orchestra.
And immediately was "hear, hear'd" by a regular contributor known for his "conservative" politics.
I chimed to express the view that it was only a matter of time until more women enter the conducting ranks, but that they had been systematically kept out by the patriarchal nature of our society. In follow up posts, I added that the primary reason why more women have not entered and excelled as conductors was because, as in most traditionally "male" professions, women have been socialized to "not want to" be those things.
To my surprise, I was mildly swarmed (these folds are mild, but do swarm from time to time) and shouted down.
If this small community is indicative of the kind of environment alive in the classical music world, then it is worse than I thought for a woman who has the temerity to aspire to conduct.
If you are interested, the thread begins here; I post under the moniker dl1998q.
david
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That is some heinous stinky bullshit...but it was a good strong reminder that we truly need feminism in classical music. A lot of good research is being done, but our field is still way behind the times. WAY behind.
I just started a blog about this topic specifically, and I'd love it if anyone with an interest in this field would like to contribute. I'd be thrilled to see the blog attract writers from all over who care about feminism in classical music.
http://www.classicalfeminist.blogspot.com/
That's so unfortunate and upsetting to hear. I'm part of our University's performance music choral ensemble. Our director is a woman who takes zero shit from anyone, and leads every single ensemble under Perf. Music: concert choir, chamber choir, concert band, jazz band, symphonic orchestra, string orchestra, and a number of trios, quartets and quintets.
And it's some difficult pieces, too! We just performed Faure's "Requiem" mass, with organ and two soloists for our spring concert. If only those classical music doofs could see what our director procures with our fantastic groups.
I just read a study by Julia Koza about illustrations in music textbooks from the '80's...she found an average of about 30% of figures were female, and she also broke down her stats by activity...the thing I found most fascinating was that in every example of female conductors (only shown in choruses and orchestras, not a single female band director) none of them had audiences. As in, every time an entire concert hall with an audience was shown, the conductor was always a male. So girls are getting the message that women can rehearse an ensemble, but when it comes to performing in front of people, it's the men who put on the tuxes and get to it.
http://www.classicalfeminist.blogspot.com/
it really is tough for women conductors. There still is sexism rampant in said world, and it is really too bad. It all ties into the well entrenched notion that women can't be leaders. Then when a woman is on the podium, she is instantly judged for either being too masculine or too feminine. Being a leader is not about masculine or feminine, it is who is able to receive the respect of the ensemble that they are conducting, so that they can do their job. Sexism will exist in orchestras until the old guy in the back of the viola section dies off....or not...